Muhammad Waqas
Muhammad Waqas joined the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering at University of Arizona in August 2018, and is currently serving as an assistant professor of practice. His research focuses on discrete element modeling, artificial intelligence modeling, mining equipment operations and geomechanics.
He completed his PhD in mining engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in December 2018. He completed his MS in mechanical engineering and a graduate certificate in engineering mechanics from Missouri S&T in May, 2017. He completed his BS and MS in mining engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore in 2009 and 2013, respectively. After completing his BS degree, his passion and profound interest in academia led him to work as a lecturer in the Department of Mining Engineering at UET Lahore, where he was involved in teaching and research. He was later promoted to the rank of assistant professor in December 2013. He joined Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in August 2013 as a PhD student. He served as a teaching fellow for Missouri S&T at Saudi Mining Polytechnic (SMP), Arar, Saudi Arabia. He also worked as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering at Missouri S&T. He completed the PFC2D/PFC3D course offered by Itasca Consulting Group, Inc. in March 2016. He won the Graduate Teaching Award from the Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering in April 2018.
Degrees
- PhD Mining Engineering
- Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, United States
- Discrete Element and Artificial Intelligence Modeling of Rock Properties and Formation Failure in Advance of Shovel Excavation
- MS Mechanical Engineering
- Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, United States
- Graduate Certificate Engineering Mechanics
- Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, United States
- M.S. Mining Engineering
- University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
- Measuring Performance of Mining Equipment Used in Cement Industry by Using Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- BS Mining Engineering
- University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
- Ore Reserve Estimation by Conventional Methods
Work Experience
- The University of Arizona (2021 - Ongoing)
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2018 - 2021)
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri S&T (2015 - 2018)
- Saudi Mining Polytechnic (SMP) (2014 - 2015)
- Department of Mining Engineering, UET Lahore (2013 - 2018)
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri S&T (2013 - 2014)
- Department of Mining Engineering, UET Lahore (2009 - 2013)
Interests
Teaching
Equipment operations technology, surface mine planning and design, underground construction geomechanics, mine planning software
Research
Discrete element modeling, artificial intelligence modeling, mining equipment operations, geomechanics
Courses
Mineral Resourc Engr Tpc
MNE 296A (Fall 2024)
MNE 296A (Fall 2023)
MNE 296A (Fall 2022)
MNE 296A (Fall 2021)
MNE 296A (Fall 2020)
MNE 296A (Fall 2019)
Prob+Stat Geologic Media
MNE 402 (Spring 2024)
MNE 402 (Spring 2023)
MNE 402 (Spring 2022)
MNE 502 (Spring 2024)
MNE 502 (Spring 2023)
MNE 502 (Spring 2022)
Equipment Oper Techn
MNE 407 (Fall 2024)
MNE 407 (Fall 2023)
MNE 407 (Fall 2022)
MNE 407 (Fall 2021)
MNE 407 (Fall 2020)
MNE 407 (Fall 2019)
MNE 407 (Fall 2018)
MNE 507 (Fall 2024)
MNE 507 (Fall 2023)
MNE 507 (Fall 2022)
MNE 507 (Fall 2021)
MNE 507 (Fall 2020)
MNE 507 (Fall 2019)
MNE 507 (Fall 2018)
Rock Excavation
GEN 515 (Fall 2022)
MNE 415 (Fall 2024)
MNE 415 (Fall 2023)
MNE 415 (Fall 2022)
MNE 415 (Fall 2021)
MNE 515 (Fall 2024)
MNE 515 (Fall 2023)
MNE 515 (Fall 2022)
MNE 515 (Fall 2021)
Mine Planning Software
MNE 419 (Winter 2023)
MNE 419 (Spring 2023)
MNE 419 (Spring 2022)
MNE 419 (Spring 2021)
MNE 419 (Spring 2020)
MNE 419 (Spring 2019)
MNE 519 (Winter 2023)
MNE 519 (Spring 2023)
MNE 519 (Spring 2022)
MNE 519 (Spring 2021)
MNE 519 (Spring 2020)
MNE 519 (Spring 2019)
Surface Mine Planning & Design
MNE 436 (Spring 2022)
MNE 436 (Spring 2021)
MNE 436 (Spring 2020)
MNE 436 (Spring 2019)
MNE 536 (Spring 2022)
MNE 536 (Spring 2021)
MNE 536 (Spring 2020)
MNE 536 (Spring 2019)
Undgr Constr Geomechanic
MNE 447 (Spring 2020)
MNE 447 (Spring 2019)
MNE 547 (Spring 2020)
MNE 547 (Spring 2019)
Directed Research
MNE 592 (Summer I 2024)
MNE 592 (Spring 2024)
MNE 592 (Fall 2023)
MNE 592 (Spring 2023)
MNE 592 (Fall 2022)
MNE 592 (Summer I 2022)
MNE 592 (Spring 2022)
MNE 592 (Fall 2021)
MNE 592 (Summer I 2021)
MNE 592 (Spring 2021)
Independent Study
MNE 599 (Fall 2020)
Licensure & Certification
- ISO 14001:2004, (2008)
- ISO 9001:2000, (2008)
- Field and Mine Surveying, (2008)
- Mines Rescue and Recovery, (2009)
- First Aid to the Injured, (2009)
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Framework for Professional Development of Engineers, (2013)
- PFC2D/PFC3D Introductory Course, (2016)
Selected Publications
Journals/Publications
- Fayyaz, A., Ali, R., Waqas, M., Liaqat, U., Ahmad, R., Umar, Z. A., & Baig, M. A. (2023). Analysis of Rare Earth Ores Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Laser Ablation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. Minerals, 13(6), 787. doi:10.3390/min13060787
- Fayyaz, A., Asghar, H., Waqas, M., Kamal, A., Al-Onazi, W. A., & Al-Mohaimeed, A. M. (2023). Multi-Spectroscopic Characterization of MgO/Nylon (6/6) Polymer: Evaluating the Potential of LIBS and Statistical Methods. Polymers, 15(15), 3156. doi:10.3390/polym15153156
Proceedings Publications
- Emad, M. Z., Majeed, Y., Waqas, M., & Rehman, G. (2023). Rock Salt Block Extraction Using Conventional Rock Mining Methods. In ARMA.
- Waqas, M., & Emad, M. Z. (2022). Design of Larger Span Overhanging Cliffs Constructed in Himalayas. In ARMA.